Odds and Ends

Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.

MiniReview
Bowery Beasts “Heavy You” [EP] – This L.A.-based rock outfit pays homage to classic rock acts such as Thin Lizzy and Mott the Hoople on their latest five song EP entitled, “Heavy You” (release date July 5). Describing their own sound as “Blue Jean Glam”, one can hear the bright melodies of groups like Slade or even Sweet percolating up to the surface above the fuzzy guitars and wailing vocals. To my ears, there is just as much modern influence from the likes of Modest Mouse or The Killers in their tunes as well. Check them out if you want a fresh spin on the late 70s classic rock sound. Highlights include the lyrically seductive “He Was Your First Tattoo” and the feisty “Young Rockers”. Learn more about the band and their music here.

Surprise of the week
Ozzy Osbourne had a pair of unlikely guest vocalists on his 1988 album "No Rest for The Wicked": Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, better known as Flo and Eddie from Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and The Turtles (of “Happy Together” fame). Read all about it here.

News
The Trews (reviewed here) are releasing “Live From Montreal” on iTUNES June 21. THE TREWS released Hope & Ruin last month and their fourth full-length studio album is also available on vinyl courtesy of Bumstead Records/CEN. The quartet just completed a leg of the "Born Free Tour" with KID ROCK in the Great White North and will summer in New York with five shows covering the state from Niagra Falls to Houston Street in June. To prepare the U.S. for their enthralling stage-show, THE TREWS are releasing LIVE FROM MONTREAL, exclusively through iTunes on June 21, 2011.

Def Leppard is releasing their first ever live album, “Mirror Ball”, and you can stream the 2CD collection in its entirety right here.

New Jayhawks coming September 20 – “Mockingbird Time”! The 12-track album is the first full-band studio release featuring both founding members Gary Louris and Mark Olson since 1995's Tomorrow the Green Grass. Read more about it here.

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, and his wife, Sharon Finn's Pajama Club have set a September 13th release date for their self-titled debut and have announced some U.S. shows this month with more coming this summer. More info here.


Charity auction for Trekstock. This week the third and final lot of plectrums will be auctioned, which includes the likes of Band Of Horses, Ronnie Wood, Duff McKagan, and Paramore to name just a few of the artists involved. The plectrums signed by these bands are now up for auction on Ebay.
You can learn more about the auction and the charity project over at Benshermanvip.com and for further updates on twitter check out the hashtag #BSVIP and the account @bensherman1963

Random iPOD song of the week
“Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina. One of the most beautiful songs ever, written by Kenny in 1970 for his brother Danny to celebrate the birth of Danny’s boy. Brings a tear of joy to my eyes.

Kneejerk: Sara Bareilles - Crowded House

Welcome to the latest edition of KNEEJERK, where we preview some new releases and give our short, "kneejerk" reaction...


Sara Bareilles “Kaleidoscope Heart”

Sara Bareilles is responsible for one of the most recognized piano pop tunes of the last decade, but without any memorable tunes after “Love Song”, most people have probably written her off as a one-hit wonder (read our review of her last record, “Little Voice” here). But I wouldn’t be so fast. While I don’t hear anything grabbing my ears as immediately as “Love Song” did, “Kaleidoscope Heart” has its dazzling moments. There is plenty of bouncy piano pop that fans have grown to love, with “Uncharted” and “King of Anything” leading the pack, and a couple of unexpected pleasures like the acoustic ballad “Basket Case” (yeah, I was hoping for a Green Day cover too, but it’s not!). “Hold My Heart” and “Breathe Again” are two more sweeping ballads that are very well done. I think Bareilles has delivered a follow up that is even better than “Little Voice” and in a just world she’ll avoid the one-hit wonder label.


Crowded House “Intriguer”

I’m always routing for Crowded House. A fan since their huge debut in 1986, I have long been enchanted by the subtle melodies crafted by Neil Finn (and his brother Tim). But to be honest, I got limited enjoyment out of the 2007 reunion album “Time On Earth” and I am even less thrilled with “Intriguer”. With the disclaimer that I usually don’t appreciate the songwriting genius of Neil Finn until a few spins later, I have to say this one is a real snoozer. “Saturday Sun” and “Inside Out” are about as peppy as they get this time around, and unfortunately the many ballads here are not as engaging as I had hoped. While some will argue this one is perfect for a rainy day, I’d much rather replay my Finn Brothers record from 2005, “Everyone Is Here”, instead.